Open Space and Recreation Plan for the Town of Hamilton Second Update and Revision Town of Hamilton Massachusetts Town Hall 577 Bay Road PO Box 429 Hamilton, MA 01936 September 2015 Plan Summary: Section 1 Plan Summary ....................................................................................................... 1-1 Comment [J1]: I have not re-formatted the TOC Section 2 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 2-1 A Statement of Purpose .................................................................................................... 2-1 B Planning Process and Public Participation ................................................................ 2-2 Section 3 COMMUNITY SETTING ..................................................................................... 3-1 A Regional Context ........................................................................................................... 3-1 General Physical Location ................................................................................................ 3-1 Resources Shared With Neighboring Towns ................................................................ 3-3 Socio-Economic Context ................................................................................................. 3-13 B History of the Community ......................................................................................... 3-14 C Population Characteristics ......................................................................................... 3-17 Population Density .......................................................................................................... 3-17 Family Income ................................................................................................................. 3-17 Industries .......................................................................................................................... 3-17 D Growth and Development Patterns .......................................................................... 3-17 Patterns And Trends ....................................................................................................... 3-17 Infrastructure ................................................................................................................... 3-17 Long-term Planning Patterns ........................................................................................ 3-17 Section 4 ENVIRONMENTAL INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS .................................. 4-17 A Geology, Soils, and Topography ............................................................................... 4-17 Description ....................................................................................................................... 4-17 Geology and soils in Hamilton wetlands and floodplains ........................................ 4-17 Effects on Community .................................................................................................... 4-17 B Landscape Character .................................................................................................. 4-17 C Water Resources .......................................................................................................... 4-17 Flood Hazard Areas ........................................................................................................ 4-17 Wetlands ........................................................................................................................... 4-17 Aquifer Recharge Areas ................................................................................................. 4-17 D Vegetation .................................................................................................................... 4-17 E Fisheries and Wildlife ................................................................................................. 4-17 F Scenic Resources and Unique Environments .......................................................... 4-17 G Environmental Problems ............................................................................................ 4-17 Section 5 INVENTORY OF LANDS OF CONSERVATION INTEREST ..................... 5-17 A Protected Parcels ......................................................................................................... 5-17 Bradley Palmer State Park ............................................................................................. 5-17 Willowdale Mill ............................................................................................................... 5-17 Appleton Farm ................................................................................................................ 5-17 Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary ................................................................................. 5-17 Fee-simple lands of Essex County Greenbelt Association ......................................... 5-17 ii Plan Summary: Hamilton-Wenham Open Land Trust .......................................................................... 5-17 Town of Hamilton Water Supply Lands ...................................................................... 5-17 Chebacco Woods ............................................................................................................. 5-17 Town of Manchester-by-the-Sea Lands ........................................................................ 5-17 Harvard Forest ................................................................................................................. 5-17 Public Lands protected by Conservation Restrictions ............................................... 5-17 Private Lands protected by Conservation Restrictions ............................................ 5-179 B Unprotected parcels .................................................................................................... 5-11 Miscellaneous town holdings ........................................................................................ 5-17 U.S. Air Force ................................................................................................................... 5-11 Other significant unprotected parcels ........................................................................... 5-11 Chapter 61, 61A and 61B Lands – As of Jan. 2007, assessors records show an additional 270 acres for which a simplified list as below has not yet been compiled. ............................................................................................................................. ............... 5-12 Section 6 COMMUNITY GOALS ....................................................................................... 6-17 A Description of Process ................................................................................................. 6-17 B Statement of Open Space and Recreation Goals ...................................................... 6-17 Section 7 ANALYSIS OF NEEDS ....................................................................................... 7-17 A Summary of Resource Protection Needs .................................................................. 7-17 B Summary of Community’s Needs ............................................................................. 7-17 Growth management strategies ..................................................................................... 7-17 Action on housing ........................................................................................................... 7-17 Reproduction of the Questionnaire, with summary of responses............................. 7-17 Part III. Open Space, Recreation & Historic Preservation ........................................ 7-17 Part IV. Growth Management ..................................................................................... 7-17 Part V. Housing ................................................................................................................... 7-17 Part VI. Community Facilities and Services ..................................................................... 7-17 C Management Needs, Potential Change of Use ........................................................ 7-17 Management needs ......................................................................................................... 7-17 Potential change of use ................................................................................................... 7-17 Section 8 GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ............................................................................... 8-17 Section 9 Town of Hamilton Open Space Five-Year Action Plan .................................. 9-17 Section 10 Public Comments ........................................................................................... 10-17 Section 11 Maps ..................................................................................................................... 11-17 Section 12 References ............................................................................................................ 12-17 OPEN SPACE ................................................................................................................. 12-17 Section 13 Town of Hamilton Americans with Disabilities Act Information ........... 13-17 A Town Office of Disabilities Commission ................................................................ 13-17 B Town Section 504 Coordinator ...............................................................................